Wristlet and web protector with athletic item engaging pad

ABSTRACT

A wrist strap-type device which is an aid in sports comprising an elongated main body having a portion for wrapping around a wrist and a portion for covering the palm of a wearer, a thumb aperture at one end of the body, a tab portion extending from the body beyond the thumb aperture and a second opposed tab portion paralleling the main body intermediate its ends, securing means for holding the palm portion in position, separate securing means for holding the palm portion in position, and a selected pad secured to and within the area of the palm portion for engaging a bowling ball, golf club, and the like.

United States Patent Alfred P. Kloee 2736 Sidney St., St. Louis, Mo.63104 20,818

Mar. 18, 1970 Aug. 10, 1971 Continuation 01 application Ser. No.554,067, May 31, 1966, now abandoned.

lnventor Appl. No. Filed Patented WRISILET AND WEB PROTECTOR WITHATHLETIC ITEM ENGAGING PAD Reierencm Cited Primary ExaminerAnton O.Oechsle Attorney-Kingsland, Rogers, Ezell, Eilers & Robbins ABSTRACT: Awrist strap-type device which is an aid in sports comprising anelongated main body having a portion for wrapping around a wrist and aportion for covering the palm of a wearer, a thumb aperture at one endof the body, a tab portion.extending from the body beyond the thumbaperture and a second opposed tab portion paralleling the main bodyintermediate its ends, securing means for holding the palm portion inposition, separate securing means for holding the palm portion inposition, and a selected pad secured to and within the area of the palmportion for engaging a bowling ball, golf club, and the like.

PATENTED AUBIOISTI v 3,598,408

SHEEI 2 OF 2 /IV YEN TO R1 HLFRED P. KL 05E,

WRISTLET AND WEB PROTECTOR WITH ATHLETIC ITEM ENGAGING PAD The presentapplication is a continuation of applicants copending application Ser.No. 554,067, filed May 31, 1966, and now abandoned. M

The present invention relates generally to devices for strengthening orsupporting the wrist, protecting the web between the thumb and indexfinger, preventing or resisting slipping of a club shaft, etc. insports, and more particularly to novel multiuse wristlet and webprotector structures finding particular use in bowling and golf.

In bowling and in golf, a large percentage of participants find itessential or useful to employ wristlets, protection for the web betweenthe thumb and index finger, some padding means in the palm of the handfor assisting in establishing a proper relationship between the palm anda bowling ball or club of some kind, a club nonslip means in the palm,etc. In general, the same situation exists in respect to other sports.Various items have been employed with more or less success. But therehas long existed the need for improved hand and wrist devices of thetype mentioned, particularly one which combines multiple functions in asimple, easy and highly effective manner.

Hence, a major object of the present invention is to provide structureswhich will fill the long need.

In brief, a unit incorporating principles of the present inventionachieving multiple objectives includes a wrist strap having securingmeans in the area of the wrist and other securing means at the back ofthe hand. A protective portion is provided for the web between the thumband index finger, and a pad or strip of some type and for some specificuse is located for positioning in the palm of a hand.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a novel wristletof the type indicated, which is highly effective for its intendedpurposes of strengthening, supporting, protecting, positioning,gripping, etc. which leaves the fingers free, which can be easily andreadily applied to the wrist and hand and removed therefrom, whichincludes multiple functions, which is relatively inexpensive, and whichotherwise fulfills the objects and advantages sought therefor.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages are apparent from thefollowing description taken with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is an outside or top plan view of a wristlet and web protectorformed in accordance with teachings of the present invention, prior tostitching to form the thumbhole;

FIG. 2 is an inner or bottom view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but with the stitching appliedforming the thumbhole;

FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 are, respectively, vertical transverse crosssectionalviews taken on the lines 4-4, 5-5, and 6-6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a view of the right hand and wrist of an individual with theunit of FIGS. l6 mounted thereon;

FIG. 8 is a view of the back of the hand and wrist of FIG. 7 with thedevice of FIGS. 1-6 mounted thereon;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view showing a part of FIG. 2 with a bowling padmounted thereon;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged vertical, transverse cross-sectional view takenon substantially the line 10-10 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an outer or top plan view of a modified wristletincorporating principles of the present invention shown prior tostitching to form the thumbhole, particularly adapted for golf;

FIG. 12 is an inner or bottom plan view thereof:

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 11 with the thumbhole formed;

FIGS. 14 and 15 are vertical cross-sectional views taken onsubstantially the lines 12-12 and 1343. respectively, of FIG. 11;

FIG. [6 is a palm view of the left hand and wrist of an individual withthe wristlet of FIGS. ll15 mounted thereon; and

FIG. 17 is a view of the back of the right hand of an individual withthe device of FIGS. 11-15 mounted thereon,

Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numeral, 20indicates generally a wristlet and web protector device formed toinclude principles of the present invention. The device 20 includes abody 22 of the configuration clearly shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in flat formprior to applying stitching 24, and in FIG. 3 with the stitching 24applied through overlapping portions. The body 22 is elongated andincludes an enlarged portion 23 at one end. The body 22 includes anouter layer 25 of leather, plastic, or other suitable material havingsome returnable stretch to aid application to the hand and wrist, and aninner layer or liner 26 of any suitable soft material. A thumbhole 27 isprovided by the stitching 24, as are relatively bulging areas 28 and 30,area 28 being wide enough to cover and protect the web between the thumband index finger of a hand. Fastening means for holding the device on ahand include a first strip 32 of Velcro material stitched to the outerside of a tab portion 34 of the body 22 and its cooperating pad 36stitched to the inner side of a tab 38, and a second strip 40 of Velcromaterial stitched to the outer side of the body 22 and its cooperatingpad 42 stitched to the inner side thereof The device 20 of FIGS. 1-6 isfor the right hand of an individual.

In FIGS. 7 and 8, the device 29 is illustrated as operatively mountedupon the right hand and wrist of an individual. The sequence in mountingthe device 20 upon the hand and wrist is not essential to the presentinvention, but usually the thumb 46 of a hand 48 is inserted through thethumbhole 27, the fastening strip of the tab portion 34 is disposedagainst the back of the hand with the Velcro strip 32 exposed, the tab38 is brought around to the back of the hand and the pad 36 engaged withthe Velcro strip 32 in secured relation, and the then depending portionof the body 22 is wrapped around the wrist and the pad 42 engaged insecure relation with the Velcro strip 40.

In FIG. 9 a pad 50 is trapped between a patch 52 stitched to the innerlayer 26. The pad 50 is flat on the top and bottom, as shown, and is ofany firm, resilient material. The pad 50 may be of the order of of aninch to /2 inch in thickness for the average bowler. The bad 50 isdisposed against the inner layer 26 rather than the outer layer 25 tobring it into better relation with the palm of a hand. It may be ofdifferent configuration and thickness for a golfer.

In FIGS. 1117 is illustrated a modified wristlet 60 including principlesof the present invention, with is particularly adapted for use in golf.The wristlet 60 includes a body 62 illustrated as fiat and unformed inFIGS. 11 and 12, and as formed through stitching 64 in FIG. 13.Application of the stitching 64 completes a thumbhole 66 and formsbulging areas 68 and 70 adjacent thereto. The body 62 is formed like thebody 22 of the wristlet 20, including an outer layer 72, of leather,plastic, or other suitable material having some returnable stretch toaid application to the hand and wrist, and an inner layer or liner 74 ofany suitable soft material. Fastening means for holding the wristlet 60on the hand includes a first strip 76 of Velcro material stitched to theouter side of a tab portion 78 of the body 62 and its cooperating pad 80stitched to the inner side of a tab portion 82, and a second strip 84 ofVelcro material stitched to the outer side of the body 62 and itscooperating pad 86 stitched to the inner side thereof. The device 60 ofFIGS. 11-15 is for the left hand of an individual.

A strip 88 including parallel rows of slip-resistant loops 90 of rubber,or the like, is stitched to the outer layer 72 in the area 68 andextending from the thumbhole 66, as shown in FIGS. 11, 13 and 16. Otherslip-resistant material may be used. It is desirable that the strip 88be disposed in the palm of the hand so that the shaft of a golf clubwill engage it transversely to minimize slipping. It will be noted thatthe body 62 is cut to provide a palm portion of sufficient width toextend substantially to the bases of the fingers (FIG. 16).

In FIGS. 16 and 17, the device 60 is illustrated as operatively mountedupon the left hand and wrist of an individual. As with the wristlet 20,the sequence in mounting the device 60 upon the hand and wrist is notessential to the present invention, but usually the thumb 92 of a hand94 is inserted through the thumbhole 66, the fastening strip of the tabportion 78 is disposed against the back of the hand with the Velcrostrip 76 exposed, the tab 82 is brought around to the back of the handand the pad 80 engaged with the Velcro strip 76 in secured relation, andthe then depending portion of the body 62 is wrapped around the wristand the pad 86 engaged in secured relation with the velcro strip 84.

It is apparent that there has been provided devices which fulfill theobjects and advantages of the present invention.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and theaccompanying drawings have been given by way of illustration andexample. It is also understood that changes in form of the elements,rearrangement of parts and substitution of equivalent elements, whichwill be obvious to those skilled in the art, are contemplated as withinthe scope of the present invention which is limited only by the claimswhich follow.

I claim:

1. In combination, a strap-type device for a hand and wrist primarilyfor use in sports comprising a flexible elongated straplike bodyincluding a thumb-receiving opening at one end thereof, said body beingof a configuration adapted to be wrapped consecutively across the palmand wound completely around the wrist of a wearer after disposing theopening about the thumb, said body including an enlarged portionadjacent and inwardly of the thumb receiving opening, a first tabportion extending outwardly from said one end of said body outwardly ofsaid opening, a second tab portion extending from said enlarged portionin opposed relation to said first tab portion substantially inwardly ofthe other end of said body, said first and second tab portions beingsubstantially parallel with said body and adapted to be disposed at theback of a hand of a wearer across the solid portion thereof below theknuckles, cooperating fastening means secured to said first and secondtab portions adapted to be disposed at the back of a hand in securingrelation when said device is in use, separate means for holdingsubstantially the remaining portion of said body including said otherend to and excluding said enlarged portion firmly positioned in wrappingsupporting engagement around a wrist, said first and second tab portionsbeing adapted to hold said enlarged portion of said body in positionacross the palm of a hand of a wearer, and a pad secured to and disposedwithin the enlarged portion of said body adapted for disposition acrossthe palm and wholly below the fingers of a hand of a wearer, said padbeing adapted to engage an athletic item in the use of said item.

1. In combination, a strap-type device for a hand and wrist primarilyfor use in sports comprising a flexible elongated straplike bodyincluding a thumb-receiving opening at one end thereof, said body beingof a configuration adapted to be wrapped consecutively across the palmand wound completely around the wrist of a wearer after disposing theopening about the thumb, said body including an enlarged portionadjacent and inwardly of the thumb receiving opening, a first tabportion extending outwardly from said one end of said body outwardly ofsaid opening, a second tab portion extending from said enlarged portionin opposed relation to said first tab portion substantially inwardly ofthe other end of said body, said first and second tab portions beingsubstantially parallel with said body and adapted to be disposed at theback of a hand of a wearer across the solid portion thereof below theknuckles, cooperating fastening means secured to said first and secondtab portions adapted to be disposed at the back of a hand in securingrelation when said device is in use, separate means for holdingsubstantially the remaining portion of said body including said otherend to and excluding said enlarged portion firmly positioned in wrappingsupporting engagement around a wrist, said first and second tAb portionsbeing adapted to hold said enlarged portion of said body in positionacross the palm of a hand of a wearer, and a pad secured to and disposedwithin the enlarged portion of said body adapted for disposition acrossthe palm and wholly below the fingers of a hand of a wearer, said padbeing adapted to engage an athletic item in the use of said item.